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Apr 13, 2013

Earning your wings - Friday Flash Fiction - all audiences

Hey guys,

Yes "another" Friday Flash Fiction.It's not with the same prompt, as it originates on a different blog than usual. I found it a short while back, and decided to check this week's prompt. I felt good about it and gave it a go.Here is the prompt:Use the quote below to tell the story of how your primary character comes to the edge (a cliche). Note: Your character may/may not fly. However, he/she encourages others to start a new beginning – i.e. to “fly.” Spring offers new beginnings to grow and soar. Tell this story in no more than 1,500 words (no less than 800) with a balance of dialogue and imagery. Now let your story fly!“Come to the edge, He said. They said: We are afraid. Come to the edge, He said. They came. He pushed them, And they flew . . .” — Guillaume Apollinaire - French poet.And here's the story.Enjoy the read!

Earning
your wings.

The winds
were a lot stronger up here.

He never
would have thought they might get this strong, even as high up as they were. But
he was here now, and so were they, mere steps away from earning his wings. It was
what he had worked towards for such a long time, but now, his stomach knotted
up and he felt the nerves soar through his body, making his limbs tremble in
fearful, yet excited, anticipation. He feared taking ‘the step’ as much as he
was longing to take it. As much as he was looking forward to taking it. It was
the last he would ever take and it was the first. The first of millions more. It
was the contradiction that made him fearful. It wasn’t full blown fear though,
he couldn’t describe it as such. It was more a waxing and waning anguish,
flowing at the pace of his blood pulsating throughout his body.

He looked
up at the sky, stark blue with an occasional fluff of white, the bright yellow
fire ball sitting high above. He didn’t feel its warmth though. Not up here. Not
with these winds. He felt no comfort at this time, even though the peaceful
view usually brought some.

‘I’m not afraid’’ he told himself
quietly, hoping to somehow calm his nerves and soothe his racing heart.

It had been
a very long time since he had last felt like this.

Years.

Decades probably.

It was
supposed to be healthy, but there was a dangerous undertone to the feeling.

Something ominous.

Something he
couldn’t quite place.

Then again.

If he
failed, he would not earn his wings.

That would
be devastating.

All that
hard work gone to waste.

“Okay, this
is it.”

The voice
startled him and he lowered his eyes from the skies to the man who had brought
them here.

“Is
everybody ready?”

They all acquiesced.

So did he.

He was ready.

“Okay, step
right up.”

Why did he volunteer
to go first?

“There is
nothing to worry about.”

“I know.”

“Good. Here,
let me anchor you.”

He watched closely
as the man performed his actions quickly but securely, fastening a safety
harness on him and connecting it to the thick cable overhead.

“Nothing
can happen to you.”

“I know.”

“Everybody
gather around. Stay behind the white line and you’ll be just fine.”

“But the
winds.” someone said.

“Are not
strong enough to lift you off your feet.”

They approached
hesitantly, their eyes going back and forth between the men standing at the
edge and the void beyond them.

They did
not come as far as the white line, obviously distrusting their guide’s words.

“Are you
ready?”

“Yes, I am.”

“They don’t
look like they are. Maybe it was a mistake bringing you up here today.”

“No, it
wasn’t. We’re ready.”

He turned,
overlooked the gathered group of people he had come to know so well over the past
– What had it been? Months? Years?

“Come to
the edge.” he said.

“We are
afraid.” they said, almost as one.

“Come to
the edge.” he said again.

“Look. It’s
easy.”

He had no
idea where he suddenly found the courage, but he turned back to the edge and
stepped forward, into the void.

He fell, as
expected, but then the safety line snagged him from his vertical pattern. In the
same instant, his motion went from vertical to horizontal and he felt a
different kind of nervousness soar through him.

Would he
succeed?

He could
not fail.

Failure was
not an option.

It never
had been.

It never
would be.

“I can do
this.” he said while the safety line slid along the cable.

“I can do
this.” he repeated, louder this time.

“I can do this!”

He felt the
strain in his neck and shoulders.

“I can do this.”

A sudden
flash of pain.

“Nothing to
worry about.” he screamed at the top of his lungs.

He had to
if he wanted to hear the sound of his own voice over the roaring winds.

“You can do
this.”

The pain
disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

“Yes!”

He closed
his eyes, picturing himself on his mind’s eye.

“You can do
this.” he said slowly.

He was no
longer screaming.

The winds
were no longer roaring.

The safety
line no longer held him.

He opened
his eyes again. Looking down, he saw the world flying by him in a blur,
unrecognizable at this speed. Looking up and to the side, his smile widened as
much as his face would allow for.

“YES!” he screamed, no longer out of
necessity, but out of pure excitement.

“I did
it!“

He tried to
steer and felt his body respond.

He had not
failed.

He had
earned his wings.

With a huge
smile on his face, he turned back to where the others stood waiting and
watching.

“I told you
it was easy.” he called from a distance, “Who’s next?”

The hesitation
was slowly dissipating.

They needed
more convincing.

He landed
next to their guide, a small nod the only ‘reward’ for his achievement.

“You’re
next.” he said, reaching for the one standing closest to him.

He quickly
and securely anchored his fellow candidate, took a step to the side and nudged
him gently.

“You can do
this.”

With those
words he gave another nudge, sending him over the edge into a vertical drop.

He didn’t
remember screaming, but he guessed he must have until that line snagged on him.

“We can all
do this.” he said, turning to the others, “This is what we have worked for. This-”

He deployed
his wings.

“is what we
all want.”

“Congratulations.”

The booming
voice made him turn, though not in fear or surprise.

It filled
him with warmth.

“Not only have
you earned your wings, you have also earned your title. Go and spread the word,
my friend.”

“I will.”

He spread
his wings and stepped off the edge, soaring on the strong winds as they carried
him to the portal.

The gate
swung open and he cleared it with a happy smile.

“Angels do exist.” he called to the lone man
sitting outside.

“And you
are one of them.” the old man replied quietly, a faint smile curling around his
lips.

Another one
who had come in, doubtful and in fear, and now flew back out on those same
wings he had always belied.